Coil handling apparatus



July 26, 1932.

K. A. CHUBB ET AL.

COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. m 1L.L, NM.

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July 26, 1932. K. A. cHUBB ET AL COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17,1951 6 Sheets-Sheet- 2 July 26, 1932- K. A. CHUBB ET AL COIL HANDLINGAPPARATUS Filed Deo. 17, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Moenia?" /fE/V/VTH/CHU/55, A27/@LEY C /QQLSTUN and i July 26, 1932- K. A. cHUBB ET AL1,868,562

COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 K. A. cHUBBET AL 1,868,562

COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1v, 1951 e sheets-sheet 5 July 26,1932.

July 26, 1932.

K. A. CHUBB ET AL COIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. l?, 1931 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Inventions.' /fE/vA/ETH A?. 04055,/94@

Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH A. CHUBB ANDHARLEY C. BLLSTON, l' CLEVELAND, .AND THOIAS ID. WILLIAIB, 0I' GARFIELDHEIGHTS, OHIO 0011 HANDLING .APPARATUS applicati@ ma member 17, 1931.serm 1ro. 581,738.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling coiled material such ascoils of strip, rods, wire, etc., and has for its object the provisionof such apparatus mounted on a truck, tractor or the like and adapted topick up a plurality of coils arranged with the axis horizontally andthen elevate and turn said load of coils so that their axis is verticalto permit the engagement of said coils by a vertical lift carrier.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tractor having the work handlingmechanism of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan of the forward end of the tractor showingthe mounting of the carriage in the mast.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the tractor and work handling mechanismwith the work supporting ram in vertical work carrying position and witha coil stripper shown for removing the work.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the work handlingcarriage.-

Figure 6 is a plan view thereof.

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevations showing the worksupporting ram with its work. centering arms in expanded and collapsedpositions, respectively.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation through the work handling ram.

Figures and 11 are cross-sectional views taken on the line X-X of Figure9 and showing the work centering arms expanded and collapsed,respectively.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates atractor as a whole which may be of any usual standard design, but isshown as a standard electric tractor. The tractor 2 is provided with avertically disposed mast 3 composed of spacedchannel members rigidlysecured to the tractor and having their flanges extending inguideway fora carriage of the beams forming the mast and the lower pair of which ismounted to travel on the outside of the forward flanges of the beams.

Lifting or elevating cables 7 are secured to the top of the Ymast at 8and trained under sheaves 9 on the carriage 5, then up and over sheaves10 on a shaft 12 at the top of the mast 3 and are wrapped on a take-updrum 13 65 adapted to be operated by a motor 14 through a speed reducingunit 15.

A ram-head 16 is mounted on a shat 17 journaled in the carriage 5 and isadapted to swing from a substantially horizontal position to a verticalposition. Stop blocks 18 on the carriage and blocks 19011 the ramcooperate to limit the movement of the ram head in the upper or verticalposition, and adjustable stops 20 serve to limit the movement of theram-head in its down or horizontal position.

The head 16 is provided with arms 21 having arcuate shaped top surfacesprovided with rope or cable grooves 22. Cables 23 are anchored to thearms 21, as at 24, and trained back over the arms 21, then down undersheaves 25 on a shaft 26 in the carriage 5, and up over sheaves 27 onthe shaft 12 at the top of the mast 3, and are wrapped on a take-up drum28 adapted to be operated by a motor 29 through a speed reducing unit30.

A pair of spring pressed plungers 31 is mounted in casings 32 on thecarriage 5 and is adapted to be engaged by the ram-head 516 as saidheadapproaches its vertical position, so as to compress the springs 33.

The s prin 33 serve the dual purpose of cushioning t e load as the rammoves' into vertical position and providing iritial energy for tiltingthe ram-head and ram forwardly past its center of gravity when thecables 23 are released to lower the ram-head and ram to horizontalposition.

A ram casting 34 of generally tapered outline is secured to the ram-head16 so as to exy'tend in a substantially horizontal position l operatedby a reciprocating rod 37 mounted in bearings 38 in the ram and`connected to the toggle levers as at 39. A coiled spring 40 is mountedaround the rod 37 and isconned between a collar 41 on the rod 37 ,and

one of the bearings 38, so as to normally urge lsaid rod rearwardly tohold said toggle levers retracted.

The rod 37 is pivotally connected at its rear end to a link 42 which isin turn connected at its rear end to one end of a link 43 which has itsother end piyotally connected to 'the ramhead 16'so as to limit the pathof movement of said link 42. yA roller 44 is carried by the rear end ofthe link 42 and is in engagement with a cam 45 journaled on the shaft17. The cam 45 is provided with an arm 46 having transversely extendinglugs 47 adapted to be normally engaged b latch member 48 pivot- `allymounted on a s aft 49 in the carriage 5 so as to normally lock said camagainst movement on the shaft 17.

A pair of coil torsion springs 50 is mounted around theshaft 17, one oneach side of the cam 45, and one end of each of said springs is securedto the cam 45 while their other end is securedto the ram-head 16 so thatas said ram-head is rotated about the shaft 17 to move the ram intovertical position the springs 50 will be tensioned.

-Since the cam is held against movement by the latch members '48,movement of the ramh'ead and ram about the shaft 17 into verticalposition will cause the roller 44 on the link 42 to ride -over the cam45 and move the rod '37 forwardly to extend the toggle levers and 54connected to the lugs 53 by springs 55 which normally urge the latchforwardly into latching engagement with the lugs 47. A stop bar 56extends between and is secured in the arms 0r lugs 53 to limit theforward movement of the latch member.

A cable 57 is secured to the arm 54 of the latch and extends rearwardlyunder a sheave 58 at the Vrear of the tractor and is connected to a handlever 59 by which it may be pulled to release the latch.

After the ram-head 16 and ram have been moved to vertical position, thearms 35 have been moved outwardly by the roller 44 moving over the cam45, and the springs 50 have been tensioned by the relative movement ofthe ram-head 16 and cam 45. The latch 48 is then released by pulling thecable 57, and the springs 50 rotate the cam 45 rearwardlyso as to bringit to its normal relative position with respect to the roller 44 andpermit the rod 37 and spring 40 to move rearwardly so as to retract thetoggle levers 36 and arms 35.

In order to prevent the trucks of coils moving away from the ram on thetractor a cable 60 is provided for attachment to the truck. The cable 60is wrapped on a takeup drum 61 which is adapted to be operated to takeup the cable at approximately the same speed as the forward travel ofthe tractor and ram.

When the ram is positioned vertically with its load of coils Y, as shownin Figure 4, the coils mav be lifted from the ram by an overheadstripping mechanism S of any usual design, one form of which is shown inthis figure.

The general operation of the above mechanism is as follows:

When it is desired to pick up a series of coils of material from a truckthe ram is positioned horizontally by elevating or lowering the carriage5 and tilting the ram-head 16, the cable 60 is secured to the truck andthe tractor is moved toward the coils at the same time the drum 61 isstarted to take up the cable 60 and prevent the movement of the truckaway from the tractor. After the ram has penetrated the load of coilsthe drum 13 is operated to take up the cables 7 and elevate the carriage5 so as to lift the ram and permit all the coils to adiust themselves inalinement on said ram. The drum 28 is started to tilt the ram-head 16and ram up into vertical position. As the ram moves into veri ticalposition the arms 35 will be extended to grip the coils and hold them inalinement on the ram. After the ram is in vertical position the latch 48will be released to permit the cam 45 to rotate and thus permit the arms35 to move in toward the ram casting 34. The load of coils may now belifted from the ram and the ram may be lowered to receive a new load ofcoils.

In order to lower the ram it is only necessar f to operate the drum 28to let out the cable 23. The plunger 31 operates as the cable 23 is letout to t-ilt the ram-head 16 forward from its (lead center or verticalposition, and after the parts are moved forwardly by the plunger 31 theywill move down into a horizontal posit-ion by gravity as fast as thecable Q3 let out.

While we have shown and described one specific embodiment ot ourinvention including a tractor support. it will be understood that we donot wish to be limited thereto, since the coil handling mechanism mav bemounted upon a permanent support and various other modifications may bemade Without departing from the scopel of our invention. as defined inthe appended claims.

Te claim:

1. Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprisinga support. a carriage movable vertically on s 'd support, a rampivotally7 mounted on said carriage for movement between approximately7horizontal and vertical positions. means for moving said ram about itspivotal mounting. at least one arm pivotally mounted on said ramadjacent the base thereof, and means for moving said arm awav from andtoward said ram to-engage and hold the coils being handled in alinementand to release said coils.

2. Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprisinga support., a carriage movable vertically on said sunnort. a rampivotallv mounted on said carriage for movement between approximatelyhorizontal and vertical positions. means for moving said ram about itspivotal mounting. at leastone arrn pivotally mounted on said ramadjacent the base thereof. and means tor automaticallyY moving` said armaway from said ram to engage the coils being handled when said ram ismoved to vertical position.

3. Apparatus for handling coils of strips. rods and the like comprisinga support. a carriage movable vertically on said support.. a. rampivotally mounted on said carriage for movement between approxi matelyhorizontal and vertical positions. means for moving said ram about litispivotal mounting. at least one arm pivotally mounted on said ramadjacent the base thereof, and mea ns for automatically moving said armaway from said ram' to engage the coils being handled when said ram 1smoved to vertical position.v said means including a cam on saidcarriage, toggle levers connected to said arm and said ram. and levermechanism operated by said cam for extending said toggle levers. Y

4. Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprisinga support, a carriage movable vertically on said support. a rampivotally mounted on said carriage for movement between approximatelyhorizontal and vertical positions, means for moving said ram, at leastone arm pivotally mounted on saidram adjacent the base thereof and eX-tending along the major portion of the length of said ra1n,a cam on saidcarriage, toggle levers connected to said arm and said ram, levermechanism adapted to be operated by said cam to extend said togglelevers to move sail arm away from said ram as said ram is mo .ed tovertical position, means for moving said cam relative to said levermechanism to permit said lever mechanism to return to normal position,and spring means for returning said lever mechanism to normal positionto collapse said toggle levers and move said arm toward said ram.

5. Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprisinga support, a carriage movable vertically on said support, a rampivotally mounted on said carriage for movement between approximatelyhorizontal and vertical positions, means for moving said ram, at leastone arm pivotally mounted n said ram adjacent tlie base thereof andextending along the major portion of the length of said ram, a cam onsaid carriage, toggle levers connected to said arm and Said ram, levermechanism adapted to be operated by said cam to extend said togglelevers to move said arm away from said ram as said ram is moved tovertical position, spring means for moving said cam relative to saidlever mechanism While said ram remains stationary in its verticalposition to permit said lever mechanism to return to normal position,and spring means for returing said lever mechanism to normal position tocollapse said toggle levers and move said arm toward said ram.

G. Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprisinga support, a carriage movable vertically on said support, a rampivotally mounted on said carriage for movement betiveen approximatelyhorizontal and vertical positions, means for moving said ram. at. leastone arm pivotally mounted on said ram adjacent the base thereofand'extending along the major portion of the length ot said ram. a camon said carriage, toggle levers connected to said arm and said ram,lever mechanism adapted to be Operated by said cam to extend said togglelevers to move said arm away from said ram as said ram is moved tovertical position, spring means for moving said cam relative to saidlever mechanism While said ram remains stationary in its verticalposition to permit said lever mechanism to return to normal position,manually releasable means for normally holding said spring meansinoperative, and spring means for returning said lever mechanism tonormal position to collapse said toggle levers and move said arm towardsaid ram. `A

7 Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprising aself-propelled Wheeled support, a vertically disposed mast kmi on saidsupport, a carriage movable verticalvly on said mast, a. ram pivotallymounted on said carriage for movement between apmeans for elevating saidram upwardly from horizontal'to verticall` positions, other means formoving said ram-toward its horizontal position when said elevating meansis released, and means for limiting the movement of said ram at bothextremes of its movement.

9. In apparatusV for handling coils of strips, rods and the likeV a ramsupport, a ram pivotally mounted on said support for movement betweenapproximately horizontal and vertical positions, means for moving saidram about its pivotal mounting, at least one arm pivotally mounted onsaid ram adjacent the base thereof, and means forl automatically movingsaid arm away from said ram to engage the coils being handled when saidram is moved about its pivotal mounting to vertical position, said meansincluding a cam on said support, toggle levers connected to said arm andsaid ram and' lever mechanism operated by said cam for extending saidtoggle levers.

10. In apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like a ramsupport, a ram pivotally mounted on said support for movement betweenapproximately horizontal and vertical positions, means for moving saidram, at least one arm pivotally mounted on said ram adjacent the basethereof and extending along the major portion of the length of said ram,a cam on said support, toggle levers connected to said arm and said ram,lever mechanism adapted to be operated by said cam to extend said togglelevers to move said arm away from said ramas said ram is moved tovertical position, spring means for I moving said cam relative to saidlever mechanism while said ram remains stationary in its verticalposition to permit said lever mechanism to return to normal position,manually releasable means for normally holding said spring meansinoperative, and spring means for returning said lever mechanism tonormal position to collapse said toggle levers and move said arm towardsaid ram.

11. Apparatus for handling coils of strips, rods and the like comprisinga support, a carriage movable vertically on said support, a rampivotally mounted on said carriage for

